Lighted sign



Oct. 8, 1968 J. F. JOHNSON 3,404,474

' LIGHTED SIGN Fileddune 21, 1965 y/MH I N VEN TOR. JAMssEJbmvso/vUnited States Patent 3,404,474 LIGHTED SIGN James F. Johnson, 3560Welcome Ave. N. Minneapolis, Minn. 55422 Filed June 21, 1965, Ser. No.465,355 4 Claims. (Cl. 40130) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lighted housenumber sign secured to the side of a house. The sign has a rectangularbase secured to the side of the house around a female electrical outletbox. The base has an inwardly directed peripheral shoulder providing arecess and carrying a seal. A luminescent flat panel fits into therecess of the shoulder and engages the seal. Attached to the back of theluminescent panel are male electrical connectors which cooperate withthe female electrical outlet box. Positioned over the luminescent panelare flat number blocks indicating the house number. The blocks havetransparent numbers and biased edges. A rectangular frame is used tomaintain the blocks in position over the luminescent panel and to holdboth the blocks and the luminescent panel in assembled relation with theframe. An alternative silhouette letter is secured by an adhesivedirectly to the face of the luminescent panel.

This invention relates to lighted signs such as house numbers andsimilar type signs that are often being searched for after dark and aredesirably lighted so as to be read even under these conditions. Itconsists of a luminescent panel which includes, as an integral part ofit, one-half of a cooperating electrical connector, preferably the malehalf. The panel is plugged directly into a female electrical outlet sothat the luminescent panel which lights the sign may be quickly andeasily changed. A base, which provides a support for the luminescentpanel, may also serve to hold a seal that surrounds the outlet box toprotect it from the weather when the sign is used out-of-doors. Anotherseal within the base provides a weather-tight joint between theluminescent panel and the base. The luminescent panel is held incompression relationship with the gasket that it engages in the base bya frame that screws to the base and may also secure in place the messageforming symbols if they are of the stencil type. An alternative type ofsilhouette letter may be secured by adhesive directly to the face of theluminescent panel. Stencil type letters are biased along the marginaledges to seal each stencil symbol designating block to the next block toprevent undesired emission of light between the blocks.

The main object of this invention is to provide an illuminated sign ofimproved character, and specifically to provide a sign that:

(1) is consistently supplied with power so that it will always bereadily visible under conditions of low natural light;

(2) can be maintained in operating condition by anyone who is able touse a screw driver;

(3) is adaptable to altered messages.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent andapparent in the apparatus as described, pictured and claimed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth indetail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these beingindicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which theprinciples of the invention may be employed.

The invention willbe described with reference to the ice drawings inwhich corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the doorway including an isometricview of the invention disclosed as a house street number sign;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged front elevation of the lighted sign;broken lines show hidden parts;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the line and in the direction ofthe arrows 3--3 of FIGURE 2 and drawn to the same scale; broken linesshow hidden parts;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a pair of stencil type number blocksdrawn to a reduced scale to that used in FIGURES 2 and 3, but to alarger scale than FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a luminescent panel with silhouettetype of message conveying symbols as an alternative form thereof; brokenlines illustrate hidden parts; FIGURE 5 is drawn to a scale between thatof FIGURE 4 and FIGURES 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawings and specifically first of all to FIGURE 1, theexternal frame of the sign 10 is seen on an exterior wall 12 of abuilding adjacent to the doorway 14. Within frame 10 the messagedesignating blocks 16 are clearly visible.

In FIGURE 3 the method of mounting the box is illustrated. The siding 12is secured in a traditional manner over sheathing 18 and a commonelectrical outlet box 20 is recessed in the wall. The box contains theusual female outlet electrical connector which is not shown nor are thewires providing a source of electrical energy thereto. A conventionalplate 22 covers the box to prevent accidental contact with the energizedelectrical leads that extend to the female connector.

The base member 24 is secured to at least the siding and preferably tothe sheathing and siding in any suitable manner that will producecompression force on the base with respect to the exterior wall of thehouse as by using wood screws 26. Base 24 is larger than the electricalbox 20 and surrounds its otherwise exposed base plate 22. Any suitablemeans for supporting a sealing gasket 28 is provided in the base member24. As shown in FIGURE 3 this gasket 28 is held in a recess in base .24and the gasket itself is provided with openings to allow the screws 26to extend therethrough. In this manner, base 24 is secured to theexterior wall of the house in a weather-tight manner.

Inside or in the front face of the base 24 is formed a shoulder as shownat 30 which is provided with an annular groove that receives a sealinggasket such as that shown in section 32. Luminescent panel ofconventional construction is shown at 34. It engages the gasket 32 andalso has a male connector 36 secured thereto which when the panel 34 isin place on the base 24 will engage the female connector in electricalbox 20.

Message forming blocks 16 are placed on top of the luminscent panel 34and are pushed against the luminescent panel which in turn forces theluminescent panel against the gasket 32 by suitable means such as theframe 38. Frame 38 is suitably secured to base 24 as by the screws 40which extend into threaded wells in base 24.

In FIGURE 2, one of these threaded wells is illustrated at 42 andsimilar wells are provided for all of the screws identified in number 40holding the frame 10 to the base member 24. Frame 10 itself is notsealed nor is any attempt made to have it weatherproof. Rather it servesas an appearance or finishing member which serves the additionalfunctions of holding stencil type message forming blocks in place andapplying compression between the luminescent panel 34 and gasket 32. Asbase 24 is sealed to the wall on which the sign is mounted and thegasket 32 seals the back side of the luminescent panel 34 to the 3 base,the sign is well adapted to exterior use as for house number signs.

In FIGURE 2, one of the message forming symbols is less Wide in naturethan the balance of the symbols. This is true of the numeral one andalso of several letters. In the case of the numeral one and narrowletters such as the letter I, the stencil type numbers, which are lightimpervious blocks, are provided with a pair of spacers 44a, 44b. Thespacers are lightly secured to the narrow message designating symbolblock so that they can be broken there from and placed at opposite endsof the total message as shown in FIGURE 2 in order to compensate for thenarrow character of that one message conveying symbol. In this mannerthe total message is centered in the opening of frame 10 and at the sametime standard size blocks may be used for all of the symbols forconveying messages.

As appears in FIGURE 4, when the stencil type message conveying symbolsare used, the vertical edges of the blocks are biased so that there issome overlap between the blocks in order to make sure that all of theluminescent panels are obscured except those portions of the stenciltype blocks which are cut away to form the symbols. This may be seen inFIGURE 4 at 46. All blocks are biased identically on the right and alsolike each other on the left side so that regardless of the order inwhich they are placed, they will fit together as shown in FIGURE 4. Itis also true of the spacer blocks 44a and 44b in the case of narrowsymbol designations so that there is a total obscuring of theluminescent panel with the exception of the desired message.

In FIGURE 5 a modified device for putting the message on the luminescentpanel is illustrated. The luminescent panel is identical to that shownin FIGURES 2 and 3 and hence is designated by the same number 34. As inthe previous instance there are male connector plugs 36 secured to theback side thereof for engaging the female electrical connector in box20. The principal difference between these two forms of the inventionlies in the numbers 48 which instead of being a stencil type aresilhouette type. These numbers are formed from any suitable opaquematerial that will contrast with the face of the luminescent panel indaylight if the sign is of a nature that is desirably read under allconditions. On the reverse side of the numbers 48 is adhesive which inturn is covered with a peel-off type protector while not in use. When itis determined what the sign shall say, appropriate symbols are selectedand the protective covering peeled off. Thereupon the device may besecured by the pressure sensitive adhesive directly to the face of theluminescent panel. One symbol in FIGURE 5 is shown rolled back to showthe pressure sensitive adhesive at 50. Shoulder 30 in base 24 should beless deeply set when the thin forms of symbol forming material are usedso that frame will surely compress the gasket 32 and seal panel 34 tobase 24. A similar result could be achieved by putting the adheredsymbols onto a transparent plate as at 52 in FIGURE 5. Plate 52 would bethe same thickness as the blocks 16. If that type of structure wereused, the base 24 could be standard for all forms of the device. Ageneral rule would be that shoulder should be spaced a lesser distancefrom the front of frame 24 than all the elements that are insertedbetween shoulder 30 and frame 10.

It is conceivable that there would be signs of various sorts that onewould want to have visible only under conditions of reduced naturallight. Under these circumstances the designating symbols could be madeof a material which contrasts very little or not at all with the face ofthe luminescent panel 34 but which are, nevertheless, opaque to light.When a strong light impinges on the surface of panel 34 such asdaylight, for example, non-contrasting letters would not be visible orat least easily visible so as to attract attention. As natural lightconditions dim, however, as after sunset or on cloudy days, theluminescent panel would glow as compared to the numbers or other symbolsconveying the message and therefore make the message readily visible.The adhered numbers also have the distinct advantage of not requiringany spacer block in order to have the numbers evenly spaced on theluminescent panel.

This same technique, of using non-contrasting block, may be used to someextent with the stencil type symbols, but not as successfully on thebasis of present experience. Whenever attempting to make a sign nearlyillegible under normal daylight conditions, it is advisable to use asthin a. material for the symbol units 16 and 48 as possible. When usingvery thin material, the problem of shadows disclosing the sign underconditions when it is not desired is minimized. In the stencil form ofsign, the panels may be made of the same material as the silhouette typeand overlapped at their edges.

In any of the described structures, the luminescent panel is alwayspowered so that the sign is never accidentally left unlighted. A switchmay be included if desired, but the panels use such a small amount ofenergy that it is possible to leave them energized. Panels using thematerials that have been demonstrated to have the longest life willfunction continuously for a number of years. When they go out, only thescrews holding frame 10 need to be removed to lift off the frame, unplugthe panel and replace the panel with a new one. Anyone who can use ascrew driver can make the replacement in minutes. In addition to thesimplicity of this replacement, this structure has the merit of beingeither totally lighted or completely out. Hence no confusion regardingthe message to be conveyed occurs as a result of one or more symbolsbeing unlighted while others are lit.

It is also necessary that the basic luminescent panel as supplied by themanufacturer be sealed against the adverse atfects of being exposed tothe weather. This may be done in any conventional manner that has aminimum light reducing affect. Either poly or epoxy resin is a suitablecoating for sealing the panel, but the transparency of the former makesit preferred.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this inventionas hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by wayof example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighted sign comprising: an electrical box having a powered femaleoutlet therein adapted to be recessed in an exterior wall; an openrectangular base larger than said electrical box and adapted to beengaged with the same exterior wall as said electrical box; said openrectangular base surrounding said electrical box, a gasket between saidbase and a wall it engages; fasteners securing said base and gasket toan exterior wall under compression to make a weather tight seal of saidgasket; an inwardly directed shoulder on said base; a second gasket onsaid shoulder; a luminescent panel having a male electrical connectorsecured thereto inserted in said base with the male electrical connectorin said female outlet and one side of said panel near its edges locatedadjacent said shoulder and engaging said second gasket; symbol meanslocated over said panel partially obscuring the surface of said panel;and a frame means secured to said base embracing the edges of saidsymbol means and forcing said luminescent panel into sealing engagementwith said second gasket.

2. The lighted sign of claim 1 in which the symbol defining memberscomprise panels as tall as the luminescent panel and covering a portionof its surface except for the symbol designation formed therein and themarginal edges of each of said symbol defining members is biased to forma light-tight seal between adjacent members.

3. The lighted sign of claim 1 wherein said inwardly.

directed shoulder has a continuous groove for accommodating a secondgasket.

4. The lighted sign of claim 1 wherein said inwardly directed shoulderforms an inner peripheral recess in the base for receiving the edges ofthe panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Chieger 240-73 Blockson 40-130Brooks 40-130 Harrold 40-130 Knockel 313-108 Knockel 313-108 LAWRENCECHARLES, Primary Examiner.

